SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA JOB MARKET : A USER’S GUIDE : A HANDBOOK FOR JOB SEEKERS : TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

In today’s increasingly technical world, the job market changes rapidly, and so do the qualities and skills necessary to succeed. The following quiz is designed to test your knowledge of the current job market to see how you fit in.

1. You are just entering the work force. How many times will you likely change careers over the course of your working life? A. Two times. B. Three times. C. Four times. D. Five or more times.

2. You’ve been laid off from your job at an aerospace company. What percentage of people in your situation eventually end up going into business for themselves? A. 5%. B. 20%. C. 30%. D. 50%.

3. True or false: Having your job terminated ranks in the top 10 of the most-severe crises in life.

4. You begin your job search the way most people do, by looking through the classified ads in the newspaper. What percentage of available opportunities are in those classified ads? A. 10% to 20%. B. 20% to 30%. C. 50% to 60%.

5. You are putting together a resume. What information is as important to put down as a summary of your work experience?

6. You’ve spent weeks honing your resume, and at last it’s finished. How many resumes should you send out to targeted companies? A . Around 10. B. Around 25. C. Around 50. D. Around 100.

7. A department head at Company X has agreed to talk with you in person but has no current openings. What should you hope to accomplish in this interview?

8. You’ve heard that “networking” is a good way to find a job. Who should be on your list of people to contact about job leads? A. Potential employers, professional organizations and friends. B. Family members, neighbors and business associates. C. School alumni and former instructors. D. Your dentist, your doctor, your insurance agent and other service providers. E. All of the above.

9. You’ve landed a job interview with Company Y. Now you’re getting dressed for that all-important appointment. What two colors of clothing are recommended for presenting a professional image? A. Blue or gray. B. Brown or beige. C. Chartreuse or melon.

10. You want to go into computers. What degree programs would best qualify you for a career?

11. You’ve always wanted to work in the space program. Is it possible to live in California and have a space-related career with NASA?

ANSWERS

1. B. The average worker changes careers three times, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

2. D. Fifty percent open their own businesses, says Carlene Gibson, economic development director at Cypress College in Cypress.

3. True. A job termination ranks third, behind divorce and death of a loved one, according to Camille Caiozzo, a Van Nuys-based psychologist and outplacement consultant.

4. B. Only 20% to 30%. At any given time, 70% to 80% of the available opportunities aren’t being advertised, says Philip W. Hauhuth, president of Forty Plus of Southern California, in Los Angeles.

5. What the results of your efforts were, says Brad Taft, vice president of Lee Hecht Harrison outplacement firm in Los Angeles.

6. C. Around 50 resumes should be sent, says psychologist Camille Caiozzo.

7. Learn more about a given industry, obtain referrals for job interviews and polish your interviewing skills, says Caiozzo.

8. E. All of the above, according to Caiozzo.

9. A. Blue or gray, says Caiozzo.

10. Computer science, engineering, mathematics and business, says Scott Sharp, vice president-human resources at Computer Sciences Corp. in El Segundo.

11. Yes. NASA spending created 70,332 jobs in California in 1990, according to the NASA Alumni League in Washington.